The Greek word thýïnos, represented by G2367, refers to something made of citron-wood, often called thyine wood. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, indicating its specific and singular use within scripture. The word is derived from a term denoting a certain fragrant tree.
The sole appearance of G2367 is in a detailed list of luxury goods that will no longer be traded after the fall of the great city, Babylon Revelation 18:12. It is itemized as "all thyine wood," placing it alongside other valuable materials like gold, silver, precious stones, and fine fabrics. This context establishes thyine wood as a form of high-priced merchandise associated with the world's wealth and extravagance.
Several related words in its immediate context clarify the meaning and significance of thýïnos:
- G1117 gómos (merchandise): This word defines the entire list of goods, including thyine wood, as "a load (as filling), i.e. (specially) a cargo, or (by extension) wares" Revelation 18:12.
- G3586 xýlon (wood): Directly paired with thýïnos, this word means "timber (as fuel or material); by implication, a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance" Revelation 18:12.
- G5093 tímios (precious): This adjective, meaning "valuable, i.e. (objectively) costly," is used to describe stones and other types of wood in the same list, highlighting the value of the items traded Revelation 18:12.
- G1661 elephántinos (of ivory): Listed alongside thyine wood, this specifies items "composed of ivory," further emphasizing the theme of rare and expensive materials Revelation 18:12.
The theological significance of G2367 is tied directly to its role as an emblem of worldly luxury under divine judgment.
- Symbol of Materialism: As part of the extensive list of merchandise in Revelation, thyine wood represents the pinnacle of earthly wealth and the vanity of material pursuits that define the fallen city of Babylon Revelation 18:12.
- Perishable Wealth: Its inclusion in a list of goods that will no longer be bought or sold highlights the temporary nature of worldly riches. The lament of the merchants is for the loss of this commerce Revelation 18:11.
- Object of Corrupt Commerce: The passage frames these luxury goods, including thyine wood, as the cargo of a global economic system judged by God. It serves as a specific example of the types of extravagance that characterize this system.
In summary, thýïnos G2367 is a highly specific term for a valuable, fragrant wood. Its singular biblical mention in Revelation 18:12 firmly plants it within a prophetic warning against materialism and worldly excess. It is not just a type of wood, but a symbol of the perishable, luxurious merchandise of a world system facing divine judgment, illustrating how even a rare word can carry significant theological weight based on its context.
TRV